[ In the end, he supposes he did take Nahyuta's advice: he let go and moved on. He just didn't realize what exactly moving on entailed before he'd signed up for it — which isn't to say that he regrets the undertaking, but when he jolts awake at the sound of the door opening only to find himself sprawled on his desk with all the grace of baby Bambi attempting to walk for the first time and a stack of papers spilling onto the floor, he does regret specifically not putting a stop to Rayfa's well-intentioned advertisements before he'd already been signed up for a double workload for the week.
That said, it is moderately embarrassing being found nodding off (not for the first time in the two months he's been in Khura'in, but those are just small details) when he's well aware that Nahyuta is even busier than he is, acting both as a prosecutor and Ray'fa's regent. Even more embarrassing because it takes a few moments for his brain to catch up with his body with an incredibly banal thought route: Nahyuta is here → what is he here for → I invited him over → wow, I'm being a terrible host right now! ]
I'm up — I'm fine!
[ Now the thoughts are sliding back into place properly — he'd been looking for a few legal reference books from before the DC Act, as research into how trials used to be conducted before, Nahyuta had offered to see if the royal library might have them, Apollo had insisted Nahyuta accept his gratitude in the form of a quiet dinner in, and unless a strange miracle has occurred while Apollo was napping, he's pretty sure his refrigerator is sadly devoid of anything that could be described as "dinner for polite company".
It's not like he hasn't experienced this before, as a tired law student in college, but he feels more acutely aware of his embarrassment. Maybe it's because he knows Nahyuta will be serene and graceful about it, or maybe it's for other reasons he's going to choose to not think too hard about. ]
I feel like you have a knack for walking in on me sleeping at the desk... [ He swears he isn't giving defense attorneys a bad reputation for being abnormally fatigued when clients are around... as far as he knows, at least. ]
[ There was very little in the way of warning; just a few sharp knocks heralding his entrance. Where once it had felt strange having reason to return here, that time had passed. Now it only seemed a blessing. Now he only wished he had more opportunities to do so. Both of them were burdened with a great task-- workloads that seemed unreasonable, if not impossible to place on themselves. Yet neither was willing to concede. Somehow they both managed in their own ways. Though their roles were different, their goals were now one and the same. Having Apollo's support made all the difference in the end. After all, despite the pressure and the significant workload, Nahyuta didn't feel weighted down by it. In fact he'd never felt lighter.
Watching Apollo scramble, a light smile crept on to his face. It and the blurted lines were rushed and graceless and yet now he felt nothing but fondness for the awkward sight. He stood just a foot in front of Apollo's desk waiting for him to gather himself, with two leather-bound books under his arm. Though it hadn't been a simple or easy task, the royal library was vast and Nahyuta vigilant. He never had any intention of letting Apollo down. If any such book existed then he would have found it.
At those last words, the prosecutor's smile curls a bit on the left side, betraying his amusement. ]
More times than perhaps even you are aware of. [ Barely missing a beat-- ] I hate to ask, but you have actually made proper sleeping arrangements, haven't you? [ --he says, but he doesn't seem to have any hang-ups about asking. He's probably joking. Probably.
If I said no, do you think Her Benevolence would take pity on me and let me stay in the royal grounds? [ — not that he's serious about that, he feels like he'd just find it incredibly awkward to live in a palace. ] Just kidding, of course.
[ To be honest, he does have a bad, but he uses it more as a placeholder for clothes he's too lazy to hang up properly than to actually sleep in. But the office couch is fine and also several steps closer to his desk, so he likes to think he's just being efficient with his time and energy.
More importantly than his lack of sleep: this is where Athena would call him a nerd who probably reads phone books for fun, and he'd rebut by asking her how she made it through law school with an attitude like that, but the sight of the books Nahyuta's brought with him brightens up his expression almost immediately — before remembering a few moments "right, I suck". ]
Before I say what's on my mind, I want to clarify that I am capable of feeding myself on a regular basis. [ ... ] Mostly capable.
[ ... Actually. He's just going to sit back and let Nahyuta read between the lines to get I totally failed at that dinner thing, he's filling up his quota of self-admitted embarrassment today way too fast. ]
[ It went without saying that if Apollo had wanted such a thing, Nahyuta would have petitioned for it. But even if he'd asked, he's sure Apollo would have politely declined. This place suited him better, he thought. It wasn't as decorated or spacious-- but there was something about it that reflected a warm and passionate character.
Not that his answers didn't leave him plenty of room for concern. Increasingly so as he continued, in fact. Why should he be concerned about his ability to feed himself? That thought led him to glance in the direction of the refrigerator and contemplate what he would find in it if he opened it.
Or perhaps it was what he wouldn't find there that he should be concerned with.
...Ah. So that's what it was. ]
You forgot.
[ Whether that simple interpretation is better or worse than other ways he might have put it is questionable. As expected, he takes it gracefully. In his mind, there was really nothing to forgive except perhaps the idea that he's neglected himself to this level. ]
Please don't be concerned with it. You've had a great deal on your plate. [ ... ] Perhaps a bit too much.
[ That is, all things considered, a fairly generously vague interpretation, imbued with the kind of social grace that Apollo often wishes he could've developed instead of his amazing propensity to run his mouth and say the most pointed thing possible. But the ambiguity here could imply some different things, like I forgot to keep a normal human schedule or I forgot I need food to live, which are fairly forgivable slips for lawyers across the globe. It's the possibility of it being interpreted as him forgetting specifically that he'd forgotten about Nahyuta taking the time out of his own obscenely busy schedule to do him a favor that he'd like to avoid. ]
It's not that I forgot... actually, I've been looking forward this all day.
[ He can't tell if his tendency to just say the first thing that comes to mind might actually be working in his advantage for once, or if he's just digging himself deeper. ]
But you don't have to worry about me, really! I mean, what good is law school for if it isn't getting you used to running on minimal sleep?
[ Although somehow Nahyuta still looks like he's getting a perfect seven-to-nine hours of sleep, what with how he maintains that ethereal aura about him. It's always a little strange to discover somebody you knew when you were eight and ran around in the dirt with grew up exceptionally beautiful, and also nearly a head taller. Not that he spends much time looking or anything!! ]
Anyway — sit down, I can run down the street and get something quickly.
[ Apollo's assurance that he had not, in fact, forgotten Nahyuta himself was all at once both unnecessary and just as equally heart-warming and precious to him. For a moment he was caught of guard; his expression softening a fraction, affection written over his features. Though he never would have accused him of such; his usually well put together self didn't have a response prepared for that. So instead he maintains his silence; only hoping it doesn't come across how flustered he was.
Luckily it doesn't take him long to gather himself. The slight shift of subject was all it took to give him new direction. ]
I feel as though we went through distinctly different programs.
[ Though he now has a much greater respect for what Apollo has gone through just to get to the point he's at now. While it stands to say he still has a bit of growing to do still; there are few who can say they are as more proud of the accomplishments he's made thus far as he is. ]
I could accompany you.
[ On one hand, his presence wasn't necessary and on a practical level, it didn't add anything to the situation. So if he had to say why he'd offer it then it would have to be-- simply because he wanted to be near him. Simple as that... right. ]
[ Apollo's pretty sure what that actually means is that Nahyuta's more put-together and efficient than he is, though he's also fairly certain anybody who watched either of the trials both of them stood in could guess that as well. At any rate, he'll just leave those extra-fun 2AM, coffee-fueled study sessions in the past where they belong. ]
Sure, that would be great. Just like old times, right?
[ There's a hint of relief in his smile — besides the fact that he doesn't have nearly as masterful a knowledge bank of all the nearby restaurants as he did in the U.S. (courtesy of his weakness to refuse treating Trucy or Athena to food), he'll take any excuse to spend more time together.
If this were virtually anybody else, Apollo would probably add an extra apology here, but if anything it feels weird to be overly polite with Nahyuta: even if they hadn't talked in a good ten years, Apollo knows he's still fundamentally the same person at heart. Instead, he'll just grab his wallet and keys before heading to the door. ]
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no subject
Watching Apollo scramble, a light smile crept on to his face. It and the blurted lines were rushed and graceless and yet now he felt nothing but fondness for the awkward sight. He stood just a foot in front of Apollo's desk waiting for him to gather himself, with two leather-bound books under his arm. Though it hadn't been a simple or easy task, the royal library was vast and Nahyuta vigilant. He never had any intention of letting Apollo down. If any such book existed then he would have found it.
At those last words, the prosecutor's smile curls a bit on the left side, betraying his amusement. ]
More times than perhaps even you are aware of. [ Barely missing a beat-- ] I hate to ask, but you have actually made proper sleeping arrangements, haven't you? [ --he says, but he doesn't seem to have any hang-ups about asking. He's probably joking. Probably.
no subject
[ To be honest, he does have a bad, but he uses it more as a placeholder for clothes he's too lazy to hang up properly than to actually sleep in. But the office couch is fine and also several steps closer to his desk, so he likes to think he's just being efficient with his time and energy.
More importantly than his lack of sleep: this is where Athena would call him a nerd who probably reads phone books for fun, and he'd rebut by asking her how she made it through law school with an attitude like that, but the sight of the books Nahyuta's brought with him brightens up his expression almost immediately — before remembering a few moments "right, I suck". ]
Before I say what's on my mind, I want to clarify that I am capable of feeding myself on a regular basis. [ ... ] Mostly capable.
[ ... Actually. He's just going to sit back and let Nahyuta read between the lines to get I totally failed at that dinner thing, he's filling up his quota of self-admitted embarrassment today way too fast. ]
no subject
Not that his answers didn't leave him plenty of room for concern. Increasingly so as he continued, in fact. Why should he be concerned about his ability to feed himself? That thought led him to glance in the direction of the refrigerator and contemplate what he would find in it if he opened it.
Or perhaps it was what he wouldn't find there that he should be concerned with.
...Ah. So that's what it was. ]
You forgot.
[ Whether that simple interpretation is better or worse than other ways he might have put it is questionable. As expected, he takes it gracefully. In his mind, there was really nothing to forgive except perhaps the idea that he's neglected himself to this level. ]
Please don't be concerned with it. You've had a great deal on your plate. [ ... ] Perhaps a bit too much.
no subject
It's not that I forgot... actually, I've been looking forward this all day.
[ He can't tell if his tendency to just say the first thing that comes to mind might actually be working in his advantage for once, or if he's just digging himself deeper. ]
But you don't have to worry about me, really! I mean, what good is law school for if it isn't getting you used to running on minimal sleep?
[ Although somehow Nahyuta still looks like he's getting a perfect seven-to-nine hours of sleep, what with how he maintains that ethereal aura about him. It's always a little strange to discover somebody you knew when you were eight and ran around in the dirt with grew up exceptionally beautiful, and also nearly a head taller. Not that he spends much time looking or anything!! ]
Anyway — sit down, I can run down the street and get something quickly.
no subject
Luckily it doesn't take him long to gather himself. The slight shift of subject was all it took to give him new direction. ]
I feel as though we went through distinctly different programs.
[ Though he now has a much greater respect for what Apollo has gone through just to get to the point he's at now. While it stands to say he still has a bit of growing to do still; there are few who can say they are as more proud of the accomplishments he's made thus far as he is. ]
I could accompany you.
[ On one hand, his presence wasn't necessary and on a practical level, it didn't add anything to the situation. So if he had to say why he'd offer it then it would have to be-- simply because he wanted to be near him. Simple as that... right. ]
no subject
Sure, that would be great. Just like old times, right?
[ There's a hint of relief in his smile — besides the fact that he doesn't have nearly as masterful a knowledge bank of all the nearby restaurants as he did in the U.S. (courtesy of his weakness to refuse treating Trucy or Athena to food), he'll take any excuse to spend more time together.
If this were virtually anybody else, Apollo would probably add an extra apology here, but if anything it feels weird to be overly polite with Nahyuta: even if they hadn't talked in a good ten years, Apollo knows he's still fundamentally the same person at heart. Instead, he'll just grab his wallet and keys before heading to the door. ]